--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They learned no compassion from their own…" description: "\"They learned no compassion from their own anguish. thus their suffering was wasted.\" — Betty Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/betty-smith-1012_anguish_they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-ow_296943.png" --- # They learned no compassion from their own anguish. thus… ![“They learned no compassion from their own anguish. thus their suffering was wasted.” quote by Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/betty-smith-1012_anguish_they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-ow_296943.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/betty-smith-1012_anguish_they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-ow_296943.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/betty-smith-1012_anguish_they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-ow_296943.png) > “They learned no compassion from their own anguish. thus their suffering was wasted.” [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion does not arise from personal pain alone; without empathy, suffering becomes meaningless. **In simple terms:** Suffering needs empathy to matter. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy beyond personal hurt. Themes compassion empathy suffering humanity Mood thoughtful somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - social work - community support - education Key Concepts emotional intelligence ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What prevents us from feeling others' pain? - How can we turn personal anguish into compassion? A Different Perspective People may resist empathy when overwhelmed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anguish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anguish/) [Anguish Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anguish-suffering-2845152/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Anguish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-anguish-2845153/) [No compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-compassion/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Wasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-wasted-404428/) ## Related quotes > [I think when you see that the status quo creates pain and anguish and suffering, what I am most afraid of is that things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/i-think-when-you-see-that-the-status-quo-creates-pain-and-anguish-and/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [The neglect this implied, the suffering and wasted quality of human life were appalling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hollows/the-neglect-this-implied-the-suffering-and-wasted-quality-of-human/) [Fred Hollows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hollows/) > [“Pain anguish and suffering in human life are always in proportion to the strength with which a man is endowed. We will not pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/pain-anguish-and-suffering-in-human-life-are-always-in-proportion-to/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [Common sense! It's nothing more than common sense for the preservation of our culture, the preservation of our country, the preservation and growth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/common-sense-it-s-nothing-more-than-common-sense-for-the-preservation/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I was never a Republican, because those gentlemen, distinguished as they are, have only one real interest, and that is the making of special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-j-tilden/i-was-never-a-republican-because-those-gentlemen-distinguished-as/) [Samuel J. Tilden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-j-tilden/) > [Suffering cracks open the shell of ego, and then comes a point when it has served its purpose. Suffering is necessary until you realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/suffering-cracks-open-the-shell-of-ego-and-then-comes-a-point-when-it/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Is suffering really necessary? Yes and no. If you had not suffered as you have, there would be no depth to you, no humility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/is-suffering-really-necessary-yes-and-no-if-you-had-not-suffered-as/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [I don't fault business. If you run a corporation, your job is to maximize the return on investment for your investors. Good for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-don-t-fault-business-if-you-run-a-corporation-your-job-is-to/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [You know, it's trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. Not only are there a lot of outsiders intervening but this also involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/you-know-it-s-trying-to-put-toothpaste-back-in-the-tube-not-only-are/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [Compassion is the antitoxin of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-is-the-antitoxin-of-the-soul/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Can you be compassionate even to those who have no compassion? If so, there is no finer karma that you can create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/can-you-be-compassionate-even-to-those-who-have-no-compassion-if-so/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [I should have no compassion on these witches; I should burn them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-should-have-no-compassion-on-these-witches-i-should-burn-them-all/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Make no judgments where you have no compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/make-no-judgments-where-you-have-no-compassion/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [We have no compassion and we ask no compassion from you. When our turn comes, we shall not make excuses for the terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/we-have-no-compassion-and-we-ask-no-compassion-from-you-when-our-turn/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [In times such as these, people should recognize that evil knows no borders, knows no limits and knows no compassion. Those around the globe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-times-such-as-these-people-should-recognize-that-evil-knows-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Betty Smith > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Several times that day, the name or thought of Papa had come up. And each time, Francie had felt a flash of tenderness instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/several-times-that-day-the-name-or-thought-of-papa-had-come-up-and/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [As long as one can suffer, one is living…live and suffer until life is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/as-long-as-one-can-suffer-one-is-living-live-and-suffer-until-life-is/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Sissy told them they were way behind the times; that midwives were things of the past. Besides, she informed them proudly, she had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/sissy-told-them-they-were-way-behind-the-times-that-midwives-were/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Why, Mrs McGarrity's all right. Mr McGarrity's all right, too. Only I guess they aren't all right to each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/why-mrs-mcgarrity-s-all-right-mr-mcgarrity-s-all-right-too-only-i/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“I drink because I don't stand a chance and I know it. I couldn't drive a truck and I couldn't get on the cops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/i-drink-because-i-don-t-stand-a-chance-and-i-know-it-i-couldn-t-drive/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Pipe dreams, he thought to himself, even while he was telling her about his dream winnings. But oh, how wonderful, he thought, if everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/pipe-dreams-he-thought-to-himself-even-while-he-was-telling-her-about/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/who-wants-to-die-everything-struggles-to-live-look-at-that-tree/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [It takes a lot of doing to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/it-takes-a-lot-of-doing-to-die/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“She sat in the sunshine watching the life on the street and guarding within herself, her own mystery of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/she-sat-in-the-sunshine-watching-the-life-on-the-street-and-guarding/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [...the reading, the observing, the living from day to day. It was something that had been born into her and her only - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/the-reading-the-observing-the-living-from-day-to-day-it-was-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [People always think that happiness is a faraway thing … something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/people-always-think-that-happiness-is-a-faraway-thing-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Hildy O’Dair is old for her age,” she thought. “It’s like powder was sprinkled on her yellow hair. But she’s not much older than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/hildy-o-dair-is-old-for-her-age-she-thought-it-s-like-powder-was/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“One day they’re babies in buggies and the next day they’re in here taking picks. Kids grow up quick in this neighborhood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/one-day-they-re-babies-in-buggies-and-the-next-day-they-re-in-here/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“If she never had any lovers, she kicks herself around when the change comes, thinking of all the fun she could have had, didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/if-she-never-had-any-lovers-she-kicks-herself-around-when-the-change/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) [Explore all 306 Betty Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## More Anguish quotes > [“He put his forehead against hers. “Alannah, my heart is yours.” He said softly. “And yet, I must hand it over to someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-morin/he-put-his-forehead-against-hers-alannah-my-heart-is-yours-he-said/) [B.C. Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-morin/) > [Knowledge gives a wider choice and more anguish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-florman/knowledge-gives-a-wider-choice-and-more-anguish/) [Samuel Florman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-florman/) > [pg.9 "In my heart there's a peaceful anguish, and my calm is made of resignation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/pg-9-in-my-heart-there-s-a-peaceful-anguish-and-my-calm-is-made-of/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Memory, with its fugitive adjustments, is the merciful veil to the grim enactments of the first law. It hides the anguish in the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-aumonier/memory-with-its-fugitive-adjustments-is-the-merciful-veil-to-the-grim/) [Stacy Aumonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-aumonier/) > [Our religion is itself profoundly sad - a religion of universal anguish, and one which, because of its very catholicity, grants full liberty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/our-religion-is-itself-profoundly-sad-a-religion-of-universal-anguish/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/being-human-we-would-expel-from-our-lives-physical-pain-and-mental/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [The intellectuals' chief cause of anguish are one another's works. Jacques Barzun, 1959 all ignorance toboggans into know and trudges up to ignorance again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/the-intellectuals-chief-cause-of-anguish-are-one-another-s-works/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [I saw my parents as gods whose every wish must be obeyed or I would suffer the penalty of anguish and guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-wood/i-saw-my-parents-as-gods-whose-every-wish-must-be-obeyed-or-i-would/) [Natalie Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-wood/) > [Every last cast is actually a first cast. The first cast and first chance to catch the next fish. The next time you anguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/every-last-cast-is-actually-a-first-cast-the-first-cast-and-first/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Journalism is an extraordinary and terrible privilege. Not by chance, if you are aware of it, does it consume you with a hundred feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/journalism-is-an-extraordinary-and-terrible-privilege-not-by-chance/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [I have discovered in my long life that there are many words and phrases which have more power than any spell of magick. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-have-discovered-in-my-long-life-that-there-are-many-words-and/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [One realizes that human relationships are the tragic necessity of human life; that they can never be wholly satisfactory, that every ego is half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/one-realizes-that-human-relationships-are-the-tragic-necessity-of/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [I have designed my style pantomimes as white ink drawings on black backgrounds, so that man's destiny appears as a thread lost in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/i-have-designed-my-style-pantomimes-as-white-ink-drawings-on-black/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [So silently, peacefully, without hurry, without any tension, without any anguish, move into yourself instantly. It is urgent. Unless meditation becomes urgent to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/so-silently-peacefully-without-hurry-without-any-tension-without-any/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [It breaks my heart to think about a family weeping over the loss of a loved one. I understand the anguish that some feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/it-breaks-my-heart-to-think-about-a-family-weeping-over-the-loss-of-a/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) [Browse all 570 Anguish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anguish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They learned no compassion from their own anguish. thus their suffering was wasted.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Betty Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-own-anguish-thus-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anguish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-own-anguish-thus-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/betty-smith-1012_anguish_they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-ow_296943.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/betty-smith-1012_anguish_they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-ow_296943.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/betty-smith-1012_anguish_they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-ow_296943.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They learned no compassion from their own anguish. thus their suffering was wasted.” — Betty Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Betty Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They learned no compassion from their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-own-anguish-thus-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/they-learned-no-compassion-from-their-own-anguish-thus-their/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```